Figure 1--Here we see a family outing in 1955. We are not sure which park this is. We think here we have grandmother and father with their daughter and grandson. They are with the family priest. I don't think movable chairs like this are now common in French parks. A French reader tells us, "The boy here looks typicallt French. In the 1950s they were few difference between the children's look coming from the wealthy and popular classes. At school or other institutions it was practicly impossible to tell about a child's family background. Don't forget France is a sort of socialist country and the children must be egual. Here health and school are completely free and one couldn't bear a child in want."

We have compiled some information on French park over time which provide some insights about social and clothing trends over time. Our information, however, is still quite limited. A visit to the park was an important part of the recreation for a French city boy in the late 19th century.A Unfortunately the photograph record is very rare from the 19th century when family snap shots were not yet common. We have found much more information on the 20th century showing how important French parks were, especially in the early and mid 20th cedntury. We are ldess sure about the late 20th century.

The 19th Century

A visit to the park was an important part of the recreation for a French city boy in the late 19th century. Boys from affluent families might visit daily, accomapanied by a nanny or governess. Often they would be dressed rather formally. Boys from more moderate income families might come to the park on their own. Unfortunately because snap shots were not very common in the 19th century, we do not have many images. A Vuillard painting shows boys playing in a Paris park. A famous Renoir painting shows a part scene in 1896.

The 20th Century

Visits to the park were an important part of French life for boys during the 20th century. The advent of dfamily snapshots leace us with many park images. We have compiled some information on French park over time which provide some insights about social and clothing trends.. We have found information on the 20th century showing how important French parks were, especially in the early and mid 20th cedntury. We are ldess sure about the late 20th century..

Early 20th-century

French boys, like English boys, from affluent families often still dressed rather formally to visit the park. Some may have worn fancy Fauntleroy suits to the park and certainly sailor suits were very common. One 1901 image shows two children visiting the park. HBC believes that some informal styles like smocks were worn by French boys, even before World War I. Tops and hoops were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Durng the summer they would sail their boats on the pond. Children in the park were also a favorite toopic of several French artists at this time. A reader notes the Marcel Pagnol book "La Gloire de Mon Pere". He writes, "This is one of my favourite books and a great description of Marseilles and the surrounding countryside in the early 20th century through the eyes of a boy. The park in that is Parc Borely and I recall that the boy's Aunt does take the young Marcel there all dressed up in a sailor suit where he feeds the ducks (and is chased off for throwing a stone at one of them!) and also describes watching adults learning to ride bicycles. I also think that the film shows this well but I haven't seen it for some time,

Inter-war era

After World War I, boys mostly wore short pants. Sailor suits were still seen, but were less common. Boys would commonly take their smocks off after school. Skating became very popular. Berets were commonly worn. Suits were still often worn. Sandals and high-top shoes were common as were kneesocks.

Post-war era

After World War II boys still wore short pants at increasingly short length, but suits became less common in the 1950s. Berets became much less commn in the 1950s as did high-top shoes. We note one scene at a unidentified French park during the late 1940s. Clothing styles from the inter-war period are still seen, but new styles are emerging. Boys mostly wore short pants. Suits were still common as were berets. Some boys were wearing shorter cut shorts. Shoe styles varied commonly. Saking and marbles were popular activities.